A BRASS band has returned from a national championship after scooping a clutch of awards.

South Cheshire’s Lions Youth Brass travelled to the Royal Northern College of Music last week to compete in the National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.

A total of 102 players in the beginners, junior and youth bands took part in three categories, and it was the first year the three bands have competed separately.

The beginners band, conducted by Chris Thompson, was highly praised by the adjudicators, and was especially impressive considering many of the children, aged between six and 12, have been playing for less than a year.

The junior band scooped a bronze award for their performance, conducted by Ian Raisbeck, and the youth band, with Nigel Birch at the helm, won second place in the Advanced Section after a challenging test piece lasting 11 minutes.

Treasurer of the group Ruth Jenkins said: “All the bands have worked extremely hard over the last few months but it was all worth it.

“We were so pleased when Nigel received the Brian Hicks Memorial Trophy for services to brass banding.

“This is a special award given annually to people who have given up a lot of time over a number of years. It’s a very prestigious award.”

Lions Youth Brass meet at Sandbach School on Tuesday evenings between 7pm and 9pm.

Everyone is welcome to go along, and the group are particularly looking for trombone or bass players at the moment.